You written a book? Now what? Surprise! A book author’s work increases post-publication. And the most important facet of that job is understanding that selling the book is mostly about selling yourself.
Here are ten things that help you say “Look at me! I wrote a book!”
- Never leave home without business cards, bookmarks, or postcards (illustrated with book covers) as handouts. Carry them everywhere. And find ways to leave them at libraries, coffee houses, and bookstores.
- Social networking – Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads.com (as an author), LinkedIn, Amazon.
- Blog. Blog every day if you can. And learn how to blog effectively. And when you’re not blogging, send out excerpts or articles relating to your subject.
- Network. Make friends with movers-and-shakers. A local multi-published genre writer took me under her wing. Her advice was, “Work with a locally owned bookstore as well as the biggies.” Local bookstores will be eager to participate in readings and library appearances.
- Approach local outlets of book chains. I managed to get a signing at a local Borders by being patient and persistent. Be sure to announce your appearance via local radio and newspapers.
- Find a “hook” to interview with a local newspaper. Use that to leverage those book store appearances and orders. I told the\ local B&N representative about an upcoming feature story, and she ordered copies of my book.
- Don’t forget radio and television. And work for sequential interviews to sustain buzz. Think nationally as well as locally. There are dozens of daily syndicated radio programs that need copy.
- Nonfiction? Invest time in searching out Yahoo! Groups and other online resources related to your subject. Don’t spam. Send short private notes to the moderators and ask for assistance or publicity.
- Ask readers to post reviews on Amazon, which seems to be the 800-pound gorilla in the book world.
- Don’t be shy. Talk about the book – everywhere you can without becoming a boor. Don’t self-limit your perception of your readership.
Of course, there’s always more, one of which is to use resources like BloggerLinkUp to find venues to discuss your book, or your expertise.
Gary Presley‘s memoir was a Fall 2008 publication of The University of Iowa Press. His essays and articles have appeared in venues ranging from Salon.com to The Ozark Mountaineer. He is an administrator of The Internet Writing Workshop. http://GaryPresley.com/
